Time for a new laptop

[GhostMjr]

So the old laptop is pretty much dead in the dust.

The battery no longer works its slower than a bank queue and i simply need a new one.

Preferably by Wednesday as i am going on holiday.

I would like to buy it from a place like pc world staples or currys simply because for the first year if it breaks i can just take it back and they can fix it without the hassle of sending it off anywhere.

I am torn between several options.

It needs to be of a decent spec hopefully this time good enough to play games not at the highest but a good all round perfomer that can play hd movies and the like.

Had a brief look and wondered whether a m1730 xps by dell brand new on ebay for around Ã,£800 is worth it?

Yes its old kit (has a 2x8800gtx sli, 6gb ram, 640gb hdd i think) or should I go for a more up to date lower speced model rather than this.

I think Gandy and TL have these not sure on the battery life but usually I have a power socket where ever i go and i can't remember the last time I used my laptop off the mains anyway.

Budget of Ã,£700-Ã,£800 at a push Ã,£500 preferably.

[BrotherTobious]

Personnaly I wouldn't get one from PC Hell but it your choice!

[DarkAngel]

I wouldn't buy from pcworld i used to work there as a tech, and if its a hardware fault in the first year of warranty they will sent it back to the manufacturers. And you will have to wait for its return do yourself a favour buy online and save the difference.

Maybe something like this?

Others:

2)

[delanvital]

2)

FYI - It is my experience that the touchpad on the models in that series is really poor

[DarkAngel]

I guess he will be using a mouse?

[OldBloke]

Buying in a hurry? John Lewis - 2 year warranty as standard and not a great deal dearer than other outlets.

[T-Bag]

Following OldBlokes link This would be your dream laptop by the looks of things...though it's a tad expensive.

I think you'll be hard pushed to find something on the highstreet to play games sensibly within your budget. Even if you do you'll be hard pushed to play them for long without the charger. Could be asking a lot from the thing.

Where are you going on holiday that will be so boring that you'll need a laptops worth of entertaining?

Didn't you buy an iPhone to keep yourself amused?

[Tutonic]

I know a few people who have bought some of the new Sony Vaio laptops - they look really nice.

[TeaLeaf]

Had a brief look and wondered whether a m1730 xps by dell brand new on ebay for around Ã,£800 is worth it?

Yes its old kit (has a 2x8800gtx sli, 6gb ram, 640gb hdd i think) or should I go for a more up to date lower speced model rather than this.

I think Gandy and TL have these not sure on the battery life but usually I have a power socket where ever i go and i can't remember the last time I used my laptop off the mains anyway.

They are indeed powerful laptops and cope with games very very well.  The screen is excellent too.  In terms of portability though, it is like a desktop in the shape of a laptop.  Pretty heavy and battery life when you turn everything on to full power is about 1 hour tops.  However, as you said, I tend to plug mine in anywhere that I go, so it has yet to be a problem to me.  It's performed flawlessly at LANs and done a sterling job over the 2 years I have had mine.  And it still plays all the games we play at LANs with zero problems.

[Penfold]

I recently bought a Dell XPS M1730 with the SLI graphics etc. It was 2nd hand, (from Gandy no less), but given it's a couple of years old, it's as sweet as.

I bought mine for the LAN's as, like others, I'm wearying of unpacking and repacking my desktop everytime. I've tried it with all the games we currently play and it copes incredibly well - far better than my desktop it has to be said.

As TL says, it ain't the lightest of things to carry and you WILL need the AC Adapter (mine's about the size of my netbook :blink:).

There's a place on Ebay which sells them and where TL and Gandy bought theirs. That may be worth a look.

GL

[GhostMjr]

Well i took the plunge.

I have always been tempted by tl's laptop and gandy's to say the least.

So i looked around still quite expensive but i am happy with what i got.

Pretty much what i think you have pen.

For around Ã,£800 all pcworld and alienware could provide was a geforce 240. I wanted more bang for buck and this is perfect.


Dell XPS M1730 Laptop T9300  2.5GHz 4.0GB RAM 320GB HDD  GREY/BLACK

           
Dell XPS M1730 Laptop T9300 2.5GHz 4.0GB RAM GREY/BLACK     Serial: 00915

[SIZE=-2]The Dell XPS M1730  Laptop. A mobile gaming powerhouse which pushes the boundaries of  performance with cutting-edge technologies. The XPS M1730 is a  groundbreaking achievement in mobile gaming.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-2] The LCD top cover is GREY/  BLACK [/SIZE][SIZE=-2] Laptop Key Features[/SIZE]

• [SIZE=-2] Unit has a  True-life (glossy) style LCD screen [/SIZE]
  
• [SIZE=-2] Keyboard: QWERTZ  (GERMAN) [/SIZE]
  
• [SIZE=-2] Operating System:  Vista Home Premium 32Bit[/SIZE]
  
• [SIZE=-2]4.0GB RAM &  320 GB  Hard Disk [/SIZE]
  
• [SIZE=-2]1GB (2 x 512MB) NVIDIA  GeForce  8800M GTX Graphics Card SLI Enabled[/SIZE]
  
• [SIZE=-2]Built-in  Webcam[/SIZE]
  
• [SIZE=-2]Illuminated  Keyboard[/SIZE]
  
• [SIZE=-2]Bluetooth[/SIZE]
  
• [SIZE=-2]Intel  Wireless  WiFi Link 4965 AGN[/SIZE]
  
• [SIZE=-2]Standard  battery[/SIZE]
  
• [SIZE=-2]12 Month  Warranty[/SIZE]
  

[SIZE=-2] Laptop Condition[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-2] The Laptop  is in 'As New' condition.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-2] Screen, screen bezel,  keyboard and outer plastics are in excellent condition.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-2] The unit  comes with a brand new original Dell power supply.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=1?]
 Technical Specification [/SIZE]
[SIZE=-2] CPU Type:[/SIZE][SIZE=1?]Intel  Core 2 Duo 2.5Ghz[/SIZE][SIZE=-2] Hard  Drive Capacity:[/SIZE]320GB[SIZE=-2]RAM:[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]4.0 GB[/SIZE][SIZE=-2] Optical  Drive:[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]BluRay / DVD+/-RW[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]Video Type:[/SIZE][SIZE=1?] NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTX[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]Video  Memory:[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]1GB (2  x 512MB)[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]LCD Max  Resolution:[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]1920 X  1200 [/SIZE][SIZE=-2]Screen Size:[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]17" Truelife[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]Display  Technology:[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]WUXGA[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]Firewire:[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]Yes[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]Bluetooth:[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]Yes[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]WiFi Enabled:[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]Yes[/SIZE][SIZE=-2] SD Card  Reader:[/SIZE][SIZE=-2]Yes[/SIZE] What is  Refurbished - Click Here |More
     
 Price: Ã,£723.40 (Ã,£849.99 Including VAT at  17.5%)

[Penfold]

Umm have fun typing on that keyboard mate :eyebrow:

[delanvital]

I noticed the same...? I dunno if you can relabel...

[GhostMjr]

Forgot to say they're fitting the uk qwerty for free

[Penfold]

Then I approve